IOC seeks Olympic insurance

BBC ^ | 04/19/04

[nypokerface]

The International Olympic Committee is reported to be seeking a £100m insurance policy as fears grow over this year's Olympics in Athens.

Concerns over construction and security have led many to believe the Games will not take place late this summer.

And the Times reports that the IOC is in negotiations for a deal to cover the cancellation of the Games.

But insurance experts doubt whether such high cover can be found so close to the 13 August start date.

[Phantom Lord]

The IOC should go to the UN for the money. After all, the UN gave Iraq millions of dollars to build an Olympic stadium becase Saddam said they were going to get the Olympics.

[dfwgator]

The Games ain't gonna happen, if they are not cancelled outright, the US team isn't going to go because of security concerns.

[Guillermo]

Who says the US team isn't going?

[TXBSAFH]

If we are smart we will not go.

[Guillermo]

So we should let terrorists dictate our sports schedules?

[ken5050]

I agree...right now, according to a friend who's a sportswriter on the NY Post, there are a great many high profile, and highly paid, atheletes..esp basketball and tennis players..who don't wan't to go..they'.. bhe under virtual confinement i their hotels..they'll be no night life, no partying..so, they all want to bail..they're delaying saying something, waiting for someone else tobe the first one to publicly announce they're not going..the IOC blew it last year when there was alk about givingthe games to Australia..they have all the infrastructure inplace form teh last time, and security would be much easier..looks for some "name" defections real soon..

[TXBSAFH]

It is not wise to stick our heads in a meat grinder either.

[NittanyLion]

If the IOC cancels the games, I hope the US invites athletes here. Let Atlanta host gymnastics/swimming, LA track & field/marathon/triathlon, etc...

[dfwgator]

I disagreed with boycotting the Moscow Olympics and had we pulled out of Berlin, we never would have seen Jesse Owens prove to all the world the fallacy of Hitler's "Master Race."

This is different, the Greeks know "jack squat" about security (the 9/11 terrorists got in via the Athens airport), they hate Americans, and it just isn't worth it. Besides ever since the Olympics let professionals in (do I really care to see Shaq get a gold medal), it is a sham anyway.

[Phantom Lord]

The olympics has allowed professionals for many decades. It was only America that amateurs until recently.

[Guillermo]

The US (along with NATO) is in charge of security for the Athens games.

Pulling out of the games that we're supposed to be securing would be a major victory for terrorists.

Also, the vast majority of Olympic athletes are amatuers in esoteric sports. These people train almost their whole lives to compete on the one stage which has a spotlight. It's a bit selfish to tell them "Forget all your hard work. You cannot compete because we disagree with what some Greeks believe."

[Prometheus_666]

Excuse me? The 9-11 hijackers did WHAT exactly from Athens?!

Correct yourself sir, the 9-11 hijackers did not go anywhere near Athens.

As to NATO's role, NATO is ONLY providing AWACS (because Greece's new AWACS units will not be delivered in time for the Olytmpics), and some parts of it's Standing Naval Force Medditeranean. That's IT.